Page 73 of On Wings of Blood

“Feed in a frenzy, did we, Brother?” Marcus laughed. “How unlike you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Marcus,” I spat. “I’d been out on campaign for days. I was hungry.”

“Of course you were,” Viktor said soothingly. “And you deserved to feed. Just as we all do.”

I’d grabbed a House Drakharrow thrall on my way into the Black Keep. There was a group of them always around, always available. Viktor made sure of that. I didn’t like to use them, but this time I’d been desperate.

Of course, with Marcus around, they didn’t last long. This one had been pretty, too. I doubted I’d see that poor woman again.

I settled into a seat further down the table and crossed my arms over my chest. I knew I was being petulant. I couldn’t help it. This wasn’t how I’d expected my day to go.

When I’d found the woman–Medra Pendragon–I’d thought she’d be a fine prize for my house, certainly. But my future bride? No. I hadn’t anticipated Viktor’s play. But I knew I should have.

“You both know there is nothing I wouldn’t do to maintain House Drakharrow’s ascendancy,” Viktor said, leaning forward. “I know you may believe I acted rashly today, Blake. Perhaps you even fear I do not have your best interests at heart. Nothing could be further from the truth.” He paused. “What you brought back–what you found–was the greatest gift you could have givento your house. Perhaps the most significant discovery made in the last century.”

I caught Marcus scowling. The bastard was jealous. Good.

I took a deep breath, trying to quiet my anger. “You really think she’s important?”

Viktor exchanged a glance with my brother. “I know we don’t want her getting into the hands of our enemies, that’s for certain. You heard what they said.”

I frowned. “Lady Avari was itching to get near the girl.”

Viktor nodded. “And Lord Mortis. You heard him. Now the question is, do you think either spoke the truth?”

I glanced at my brother then back at Viktor. “You think they wanted us to destroy her?”

“Lady Avari? Yes. Absolutely. She believed I would. But first she wanted to plant the idea of the girl being an omen in the minds of the others.”

“So that when you killed her, they’d question the wisdom of your decision,” I guessed.

Viktor nodded.

“And Lord Mortis?”

“Perhaps he thought I would suggest we wed the rider girl to one of his younger sons as an experiment.” My uncle smiled. “I doubt he was expecting me to do what I did.”

“No,” I said, glaring at him. “I doubt he expected you to use me as your pawn. But then, that’s what we all are to you, aren’t we, Viktor?”

Viktor frowned. “We all work for the good of our house.”

“If you don’t want the girl, I could take her off your hands, Brother,” Marcus said with a leer. “That hair. It’s quite unusual. I wouldn’t mind wrapping my hands in it. Do you think she looks like blightborn women in other ways? Or is everything about her different? Right down to her...”

“She’s mine,” I snarled. “You’ll keep your fucking hands off her.”

“Oh, ho. The little lion cub doesn’t want to share.” Marcus laughed and put his hands up.

“Stop it, you two,” my uncle said absent-mindedly, rubbing his temple.

“You could have wed her to Marcus. Why didn’t you?” I demanded. Though if Pendragon thought I was bad, she’d have been in for a real shock with Marcus.

“I wouldn’t have minded getting some of that rider pussy,” Marcus agreed. “I could have made her beg for some highblood cock. And we wouldn’t have had to wait so long to seal the bond either. I’d have made sure of that.”

“Enough.” My uncle slammed his hands down on the table. “Blake, you know I have other plans for Marcus. Once he has learned, that is, to show somefucking restraint.” He practically screamed the last words.

My brother and I both flinched.

Marcus had already had two consorts.

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